Organic light-emitting display device including a planarization pattern and method for manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

Provided is an organic light-emitting display device (OLED) and method of manufacturing the same. The OLED comprises a substrate and a thin film transistor, with source/drain electrodes, located at a predetermined area on the substrate. A passivation layer is located on the source/drain electrodes with a via hole exposing one of the source/drain electrodes. A first pixel electrode is located at the bottom of the via hole, electrically coupled to the exposed source/drain electrode, and extending onto the side wall of the via hole and the passivation layer. A planarization pattern fills the via hole in which the first pixel electrode is located and exposes the portion of the first pixel electrode on the passivation layer.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Applications No.2003-72339, filed Oct. 16, 2003 and No. 2003-0083391, filed Nov. 22,2003, which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as iffully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an organic light-emitting display(OLED) and method of manufacturing the same and, more particularly, toan active matrix OLED and method of manufacturing the same.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

An (OLED) is an emissive display device that electrically excitesfluorescent organic compounds to emit light. OLEDs are eitherpassive-matrix type or active-matrix type, depending upon the methodutilized to drive the display pixels, which are arranged in a matrix.The active-matrix OLED consumes less power than the passive-matrix OLED,thus providing the capability to create a larger display area at ahigher resolution.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional passive-matrixOLED and a method for manufacturing the same.

Referring to FIG. 1, a buffer layer 105 is formed on an insulatingsubstrate 100. Utilizing a conventional method, a driving thin filmtransistor (TFT) is then formed on buffer layer 105 by sequentiallyforming an active layer 110, a gate insulating layer 120, a gateelectrode 130, an interlayer 140, and source/drain electrodes 145. Aplanarization layer 155 is formed on the entire surface of thesubstrate, which includes the driving TFT. A via hole 150 is then formedin the planarization layer 155 to expose any one of the source/drainelectrodes 145.

A pixel electrode 170 is then formed within the via hole 150 to contactthe exposed source/drain electrodes 145. Since the pixel electrode 170is formed along the bottom and side wall of the via hole 150, it has arecessed region in the via hole 150.

A pixel defining layer 175, formed to cover pixel electrode 170, has anopening 178 spaced from the via hole 150, at a predetermined distance,in order to expose pixel electrode 170. An organic emission layer 180 isformed on the pixel electrode 170, exposed by the opening 178, and anopposite electrode 190 is formed on the organic emission layer 180,thereby forming an organic light-emitting diode. This organiclight-emitting diode is connected to, and driven by, the driving TFTthrough the via hole 150.

With this method of manufacturing an OLED, the pixel defining layer 175is formed to cover the pixel electrode 170 recessed in the via hole 150.Here, the pixel defining layer 175 has an opening 178 spaced from thevia hole 150 at a predetermined distance. The organic emission layer 180is not located over the recessed portion of pixel electrode 170 in orderto prevent recession and deterioration of the organic emission layer180. However, because the opening 178 is formed and spaced from the viahole 150 at a predetermined distance, an opening area (P), which isdefined by the opening 178, is limited, and the resultant aperture ratioof the opening area (P) to the unit pixel area is also limited. Theselimitations are greater in a top-emitting OLED, which emits light fromorganic emission layer 180 in a direction away from the substrate 100.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an OLED and a methodof manufacturing an OLED that substantially obviates one or more of theproblems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

The present invention provide an OLED and a method for manufacturing anOLED that prevents a limitation of the aperture ratio due to a via hole.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with of thepresent invention, as embodied and broadly described, one aspect of thepresent invention provides an OLED comprising a substrateand a TFT, withsource/drain electrodes, located at a predetermined area on thesubstrate. A passivation layer is located on the source/drain electrodeswith a via hole exposing one of the source/drain electrodes. A firstpixel electrode is located at the bottom of the via hole, electricallycoupled to the exposed source/drain electrode, and extending onto theside wall of the via hole and the passivation layer. A planarizationpattern fills the via hole in which the first pixel electrode is locatedand exposes the portion of the first pixel electrode on the passivationlayer.

The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing such anOLED. It forms a thin film transistor, having source/drain electrodes,at a predetermined area on the substrate. A passivation layer is formedon the source/drain electrodes and a via hole is formed to expose one ofthe source/drain electrodes. A first pixel electrode is formed on theexposed source/drain electrode, the side wall of the via hole, and thepassivation layer. A planarization layer is formed on the first pixelelectrode and a planarization pattern is formed to fill the via hole inwhich the first pixel electrode is located and expose the portion of thefirst pixel electrode that is on the passivation layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional passive-matrixOLED and method for manufacturing the same.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C show cross-sectional views of an active-matrix OLEDand method for manufacturing the same in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of an active-matrix OLED and amethod for manufacturing the same in accordance with another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment of the presentinvention, example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C show cross-sectional views of an OLED and methodfor manufacturing the same in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. The OLED includes at least one unit pixel, whichis shown in the cross sectional views.

FIG. 2A shows a substrate 300, which may be an insulating substrate. Abuffer layer 305 is formed on the substrate 300 to protect a thin filmtransistor, which is formed in a subsequent process, from an impuritysuch as an alkali metal ion outdiffused from the substrate. It can beformed of a silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer or a doublelayer stacking the two layers.

An active layer 310 is formed on a predetermined area of the bufferlayer 305. The active layer 310 includes source/drain regions 315 and achannel region 317 interposed between the source/drain regions 315. Theactive layer 310 can be formed of an amorphous silicon layer, apolycrystaline silicon layer, or other similar substance. A gateinsulating layer 320 is formed on the active layer 310 and buffer layer305, and a gate electrode 330 is formed on the gate insulating layer 320to correspond to the channel region 317. An interlayer 340 is formed onthe gate electrode 330 and the gate insulating layer 320, and contactholes, which expose source/drain regions 315, are formed in theinterlayer 340 and the gate insulating layer 320.

Source/drain electrodes 345, which are connected with the source/drainregions 315 exposed by the contact holes, are then formed on theinterlayer 340. A passivation layer 355 is formed on the source/drainelectrodes 345, and a via hole 360, which exposes one of thesource/drain electrodes 345, is then formed in the passivation layer355.

Then, a first pixel electrode 363 is formed on the passivation layer 355that the via hole 360 was just formed in. The first pixel electrode canbe formed by various processes including depositing conductive materialusing a sputtering process, a vacuum deposition process, or a shadowmask, and then patterning that deposited conductive material using aphotolithography process. The first pixel electrode 363 is coupled withthe source/drain electrode 345 by the via hole 360, and it is alsolocated on side wall of the via hole 360 and on the passivation layer355. Further, the first pixel electrode 363 may be located over anyportion of the area which the thin film transistor is formed on.

The first pixel electrode 363 may be formed as an anode or a cathode. Ifformed as anode, it is formed using ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or IZO(Indium Zinc Oxide), which are transparent conductive layers.Alternatively, if the first pixel electrode 363 is formed as thecathode, it is formed using one material selected from the groupconsisting of Al, Cr, AlNd and Ni.

A planarization layer 366 is then formed on the first pixel electrode363 at a thickness that ensures that at least the via hole 360 iscompletely filled. The planarization layer 366 can reduce topologygenerated by its underlying pattern, and it may be formed of onematerial selected from the group consisting of benzocyclobutene (BCB),phenolic resin, acryl resin, polyimide resin, SOG, and other similarmaterial. The planarization layer 366 may be formed using a wet coatingmethod.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the planarization layer 366 (as shown in FIG. 2A)is etched until the portion of the first pixel electrode 363 on thepassivation layer 355 is exposed. Accordingly, a planarization pattern367 filling the via hole 360, which the first pixel electrode 363 islocated in, is formed. Planarization patterns 368 are also formed ateach end of the pixel electrode 363 on the portion of the passivationlayer not covered by the pixel electrode 363. It is preferable that theupper surface of the planarization pattern 367 be coplanar with theupper portion of the first pixel electrode 363. Similarly, it ispreferred that the planarization patterns 368 be coplanar with pixelelectrode 363. Alternatively, the planarization patterns 368 may be at alower plane than pixel electrode 363. The etching may be performed usinga dry etching method. Furthermore, etching gas used in the dry etchingmethod may be mixed gas of SF₆ and O₂, and the volume ratio of the gasesmay be 5:3, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 2C, a pixel defining layer 375 may be formed on thesubstrate having the planarization pattern 367. The pixel defining layer375 has an opening 378 that exposes at least the first pixel electrode363. An organic functional layer 380, which has at least an organicemission layer, is formed on the exposed portion of first pixelelectrode 363. The organic functional layer 380 can further comprise acharge injecting layer, a charge transporting layer, or a chargeinjecting layer and a charge transporting layer.

Because the planarization pattern 367 fills the via hole 360, theorganic functional layer 380 can now be formed on the substrate,including on the portion where the via hole 360 is located. Accordingly,deterioration generated by possible bending of the organic functionallayer 380 is controlled by the planarization pattern 367. Thus theopening 378 can be formed without regard to the position of the via hole360. In other words, the opening 378 can be located not only over thevia hole 360, but also over the area where the thin film transistor isformed. As a result, the opening area (Q), which is defined by theopening 378, can be expanded and, correspondingly, the aperture ratio ofthe opening area to the unit pixel area can be increased. Theimprovement is more effective in a top-emitting OLED that emits lightfrom the organic emission layer, which is formed in a subsequentprocess, in a direction away from the substrate. This improvement may beenhanced when the upper surface of the planarization pattern 367 iscoplanar with the upper surface of the portion of the first pixelelectrode 363.

An opposite electrode 390 is next formed on the organic functional layer380. The opposite electrode 390 is formed as cathode when the firstpixel electrode 363 is formed as anode, and it is formed as anode whenthe first pixel electrode 363 is formed as cathode.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an OLED and method formanufacturing the same in accordance with another exemplary embodimentof the present invention. The OLED according to this second exemplaryembodiment is the same as the OLED of the previous exemplary embodimentexcept as follows.

Referring to FIG. 3, a second pixel electrode 370 is formed on the firstpixel electrode 363 before the pixel defining layer 375 is formed. Thesecond pixel electrode 370 is located on the planarization pattern 367and the first pixel electrode 363. The second pixel electrode 370 iselectrically coupled to the first pixel electrode 363 and, through thefirst pixel electrode 363, to the source/drain electrode 345. Theelectrical connection between the organic functional layer 380 and thefirst pixel electrode 363 can be improved by the second pixel electrode370. Preferably, the second pixel electrode 370 is formed on the entiresurface of the first pixel electrode 363. Furthermore, as with the firstpixel electrode 363, the second pixel electrode 370 may be formed overthe any portion of the area where the thin film transistor is formed.

The second pixel electrode 370 is formed as an anode or a cathode. Ifformed as the anode, the first pixel electrode 363 and the second pixelelectrode 370 are formed using ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or IZO (IndiumZinc Oxide) or other similar materials, which are transparent conductivelayers. Alternatively, the first pixel electrode 363 can be formed usingone material selected from the group consisting of Al, Ag, MoW, AlNd andTi, and the second pixel electrode 370 can be formed using ITO or IZO.Preferably, the first pixel electrode 363 is formed using AlNd. In thiscase, the first pixel electrode 363 may work as a reflecting plate.

On the other hand, if the second pixel electrode 370 is formed ascathode, it is formed of conductive material, such as Al, Ni, Cr, AlNd,and other similar materials. The first pixel electrode 363 is formed ofsuch materials as Al, Ag, MoW, AlNd, Ti and other similar materials.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, the organic functional layer can also be formed overthe via hole by forming the planarization pattern filling that via hole.This permits an increase in the aperture ratio because the opening ofthe pixel defining layer may be formed without regard to the position ofthe via hole. Furthermore, adding the second pixel electrode on thefirst pixel electrode enhances the electrical connection between thefirst pixel electrode and the organic functional layer.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variation can be made in the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. An organic light-emitting display (OLED) device, comprising: asubstrate; a thin film transistor, having source/drain electrodes,located on the substrate; a passivation layer located on thesource/drain electrodes and having a via hole exposing one of thesource/drain electrodes; a first pixel electrode formed on thepassivation layer, electrically coupled to the exposed source/drainelectrode through the via hole; and a planarization pattern filling thevia hole and exposing a portion of the first pixel electrode on thepassivation layer; a pixel defining layer located on the first pixelelectrode and having an opening that exposes the first pixel electrode;an organic layer located on the first pixel electrode exposed in theopening and having an organic emission layer; and an opposite electrodelocated on the organic layer, wherein an upper surface of theplanarization pattern and an upper surface of the first pixel electrodeare coplanar, wherein the upper surface of the planarization pattern isnot coplanar with an upper surface of the pixel defining layer, andwherein the pixel defining layer overlaps a second planarization patternsituated at least one end of the first pixel electrode, an upper surfaceof the second planarization pattern being coplanar with the uppersurface of the first pixel electrode.
 2. The OLED device of claim 1,wherein the planarization pattern is formed of one material selectedfrom a group consisting of benzocyclobutene, phenolic resin, acrylresin, polyimide resin, and SOG.
 3. The OLED device of claim 1, whereinthe first pixel electrode is also located over any portion of the areawhere the thin film transistor is located.
 4. The OLED device of claim1, wherein the first pixel electrode is formed of indium tin oxide orindium zinc oxide.
 5. The OLED device of claim 1, wherein the firstpixel electrode is formed of one material selected from a groupconsisting of Al, Ni, Cr and AlNd.
 6. The OLED device of claim 1,further comprising a second pixel electrode located on the planarizationpattern and the first pixel electrode.
 7. The OLED device of claim 6,further comprising: a pixel defining layer located on the second pixelelectrode and having an opening which exposes the second pixelelectrode; an organic layer located on the second pixel electrodeexposed in the opening and having an organic emission layer; and anopposite electrode located on the organic layer.
 8. The OLED device ofclaim 6, wherein the second pixel electrode is located on the entiresurface of the first pixel electrode.
 9. The OLED device of claim 6,wherein the second pixel electrode is formed of one of indium tin oxide,indium zinc oxide, or other similar material.
 10. The OLED device ofclaim 6, wherein the second pixel electrode is formed of one materialselected from a group consisting of Al, Ni, Cr and AlNd.
 11. The OLEDdevice of claim 6, wherein the first pixel electrode is formed of onematerial selected from a group consisting of Al, Ag, MoW, AlNd, and Ti.12. The OLED device of claim 9, wherein the first pixel electrode isformed of one of indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, or other similarmaterial.
 13. The OLED device of claim 9, wherein the first pixelelectrode is formed of one material selected from a group consisting ofAl, Ag, MoW, AlNd, and Ti.
 14. The OLED device of claim 1, wherein thepixel defining layer is spaced apart from the passivation layer.